Tumbling and sand-blast cleaning machine



- June 30, 1925.

J. Fa VVILI) TUMBLING AND SAND BLAST CLEANING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Fil ed Jxily 5. 1923 June 30, 1925.

J. P. WILD TUMBLING AND SAND BLAST CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1923 5 Sheets-Sh et 2 June 30, 1925.

J. P. WILD TUMBLING AND SAND BLAST CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q 3 I u w x w x v/ R3 June 30, 1925- 1 1,544,513

J. P. wry: .7

TUMBLING AND SAND BLAST ELEANING MACEINE Filed Ju1y 6, 1.923 SSheets-Sheet *1 June so, 1925. I 1,544,513

J. P. WILD I TUMBLING AND SAND BLAST CLEANING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 30, 1925.

JOSEPH P; WILD, or WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN.

TUMBLING AND SAND- BLAST CLEANING MACHINE.

Application filed July 6,

T0 aZZ whom it may concern-.5 I 7 Be it known that I, Josnrrr P. WILD, a:

citizen of the United States, residing at VVaukesha, county ofVVaukesha, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new,

and useful. Improvements in Tumblingand Sand-Blast Cleanin' Machines. of which the following is a specification.

My invention-relates to machines .used for cleaning castings and for similar purposes, in which is a rotating drum where the articles to be cleaned. are placed and agitated, and a blast mechanism for delivering sand or other abrasive to the articlesto'be cleaned while being agitated; and :it hasfor its object to improve machines oft-his kindin the manner which I will point out in the following specification. 9

In the accon'ipanyjing draavingswvhereln I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a sideview of a cleaning machine embodying the invention, as it appears when closed and in operation.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation representing, in

full lines, the machine with the end which constitutes the door to the rotating drum swung to one sidetoxexpose the Interior-of the. drum, and, in dotted lines, the. drum tilted to discharge its contents.

Fig. 1 is atop plan view of theapparatus with the parts occupying posit-ions shown m Fig. 1.

g is a longitudinalsectional view on the line Fig. 6 is a rear end view of the machine. 7

7 is a detail end view of the sand trap or collecting receptacle.

Fig. 8 is a broken view developed 111 a plane illustrating the casing surrounding the drum, and the means for separating and rading the material. that collects therein. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective diagrammatic views illustrating the grading and collecting means in the surrounding casing.

In the accompanying. drawings, 2 indicates the tumbling drum into which the articles to be cleaned are inserted through closure 6.

itsopen front end, which while the drum-is in operation, is closed by a door or movable The drum is the vfrustum of cone in shape, and is preferably formed of metal, its front end beingopen and'itsrear end closed by'a wall or plateb; ,A portion, at, of the drum, toward the large or head 1923. Serial No. 649,819;

end thereof, is-surrounded by a casing 7, set

off therefrom a suitable distance to-form a chambered, the purpose of which will be later described.- The part of the drum extending beyond the casing 7, toward the rear, is indicated by at. A section, 3,,of that part of the drum designated 4 is perforated,

thus establishing communication between the interior ofthe drum and the chamber 44;

One or more tires '8, two being, shown in the drawings, are secured to the periphery of the drum, and these are adapted to run in atrough formed to receive them in a cradle 12. A series of rollers 13, mounted on shafts 14, are arranged in the channel of the-cradle 12, in engagement with which run the tires 8 whenever the drum is involved. The tires are preferably separated from each other by spacing pieces 10 and the casing wall 7 restsupon other spacing pieces 11 securedto the periphery of the drum and preferably being in the chamber l4. Connected with the drum, preferably by being secured to one of the tires 8, is a bevel gear ring 9.

15 indicates the main frame: forsu aporting the drum. It comprises a pair of posts whiohthfe drum is rotated. Itcarries a pulkey 20 for a belt connecting it'with. any suitable source of power, and a pinion 19 in mesh with-the gear'ring 9.

21 indicates a floor stand or support for the rearend of the drum; and 22 a post or support to which is hinged, at 28, a bracket 26 carrying the door or closure 6 for the front end of the drum. This closure. is preferably of conical shape and is formed at its center withahub 2 1 that turns in a bearing 25 carried by the bracket 26. The hub 24 has formed through it an opening 32 in which is supported the nozzle 31 through which is discharged the sand or other abrar siveused incleaning the articles within the tumbling drum. The sand is stored in a hopper or box 27' that delivers into a mixing chamber 30, communicating with the sand nozzle 31, and into which projects an air nozzle 28 that is connected by hose 29 with any source of supply of air under pressure. The nozzle 31 is so inclined as to direct the stream of air and abrasive carried thereby against the material that may be in the drum to be cleaned while being tumbled and agitated by the rotation of the drum.

At the rear end of the drum and secured to the exterior of the closing plate is a tubular hub 33 mounted in a bearing 35 which is secured by bolts 38 to a separable supporting piece 37 that is adapted to rest upon the upper end of the floor stand 21 when the drum is in working position as indicated in Fig. 1. lVhen the drum is tilt ed for discharge, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the supporting piece 37 leaves the floor stand as shown by the draw- The support for the rear end of the drum serves to arrest and so support the drum that it is not only in position to be rotated but is also in correct position to receive the swinging closure or door 6 without necessitating manual adjustment to one position or another to cause the door to match the open end of the drum, as would be the case if the drum were not provided with means for arresting it in a fixed or determined position after it has been tilted.

The rear wall 5 is perforated at 3st, so that there is communication between the interior of the drum and the tubular hub 33. This hub and its hearing are surrounded by a housing 36 with which is connected an air trunk 39 leading to a chamber 420, supported by the trunnion 17 of the cradle 12 that is opposite the trunnion through which passes the drive shaft 18. A nozzle 41, coaxial with the trunnion 17, extends outward from the air box 40' and enters the end of an air trunk 1-2 that leads to some suction apparatus, not illustrated. The housing 36, the air pipe 39, the air'box 40, the nozzle 41, and pipe 4.2 constitute an exhaust duct through which the dust-laden air from the tumbling drum is carried away. The arrangement is such that a working connection is maintained ate-1, 42, whatever he the position to which the drum is adjusted.

The general operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The door or closure 6 is swung to one side as represented in Fig. 2 and the articles to be cleaned are placed within the drum and the door. closed and secured. The drum is then rotated, causing the articles to be tumbled and agitated. While this is taking place a blast from the nozzle 31 carrying sand or other abrasive material is discharged against the articles to assist in cleaning them, in a manner well known in the .Qhe main body of the abrasive,

along with the heavier particles of matter removed from the, articles being cleaned, passes through the perforated portion 3 of the drum into the chamber A where it is taken care of in a manner which I will presently describe. The dust and lighter material that fills the atmosphere within the drum is taken off through the exhaust duct and disposed of in one way or another as may be found desirable- After the agitating and cleaning action has been carried on sufliciently long to clean the articles, the rotation of the drum is stopped, the door 6 is opened, and the drum tilted to the position represented in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that its contents are discharged, as into a barrow B placed between the posts of the frame 15 to receive it. By making the drum in the form of a frustum of a cone the larger end 'of which is entirely open for charging and discharging purposes, I ind that it discharges much more readily than if the drum were cylindrical, or had an opening of contracted size, for no matter how badly the articles treated become tangled one with the other, or whatever be their size and shape, they will freely discharge from the drum when it is tilted, as represented in Fig. 3.

In connection with the drum which I have described I combine means for sifting and screening the loose material that passes through the perforated portion 3 of the drum into the chamber at surrounding the larger end thereof and formed by the enclosing casing 7.

Referring particularly to Figs. 8 to 10 of the drawings in which the interior arrangement of the chamber lt is represented and where the direction of rotation of the drum is indicated by broken arrows, it will be observed that directly following the perforated section 3 of the drum there is a screen l5, located between the periphery of the drum 2 and the cylindrical wall of the easing 7, and extending from a line on the front wall 63 of: the chamber t t-close to the section 3, nearly to the rear wall 64: thereof, leaving a space, 5%, between the end of the screen and such rear wall. The screen is inclined, that is to say, its forward end is nearer to the perforated section 3 of the drum than is its rear end, with the result that the material which passes through the perforations 3 into the chamber 44 is directed, as the drum rotates, against the screen and slides along the same from its forward to its rear end, the line material llil passing through the screen and the coarser passing over the same and through the aace 5st, where it falls upon a second screen 4-8 that is reversely inclined to screen 45, its forward end being in engagement with the rear wall. 64 of the chamber, and its rear end tern'iinating short of the front wall (33.

ber 44.

An imperiorate' deflecting plate or an; 46,

is lccated adjacent to the perforated section 3 or" the drum a'n'd extends from the rear, vall thereof inwardly with an incl nation the re""erse of that ofthe screen Thefmaplate 47- is mounted behind the screen and inclined reversely thereto, its forward end joining the rear end of tli'e'scre'en-45 and its rear end connecting with a Wall that v chai'nber 44. Betweenthe Walls50 and 6 3 is a passage'bl leading toanopening 52 into; a duct spout that deliyers to'the sand or abrasive box or'trap', 56} third ini- )eri'orate avail, 7 49, is directly behind and parallel Withthe second' screen 48. There is formed a pocket, 53, bounded-by the Wall 4'7, the Wall 50, and the screen 48, which collects the coarse material that will not pass through the screens 45 or r The operation of the parts'jnst' described is as'iiollows: As the drum revolves, inthe direction indicated by the broken ZIIIOWS, the abrasive and the loose material removed iroin the articles being cleaned. will sift through the perio-rateportion 30f the drum and enter the screening chamber 44. The material entering such chamber first comes into engagement with the screen 45 and is cansedto slide over the front face thereof, a considerable portion otthe finer particles passing through the screen, to be caught by the iniperi orate Wall 47 and directed by it into the channel 51, whence it passes through the opening 52 and into t'he spout or duct by which it is eventually directed to the trap 56. Such of the material as does not pass through the first screen 45'g'oes' over its end, at 54, and passes to the second, reversely lnclined, screen 48, along the face of which it is caused to slide. 'Finjeinaterial passes through this screen and is :aught upon the second iinpertorate' all 49 by which it is directed to the opening and into the duct or spout 55. The coarse material, which does not-pass through either of the screens, collects in the pocket 53. hen the drum has turned'sutiiciently far,

as to the position indicated in Fig. 10, the

coarser material in' the "pocket 53 falls against the rear face of the 'imperforate plate 47, and" is by it directed toward the opening 54, reaching which. it fallsagainst the rear face 01 the plate 46. and is byit directed into a collecting box 61 for'the coarse stuff: Itwill thus be seen that there is an automatic screening and grading of the material that passes through the perforate section of the drum and into the chamstatechis delivered into the collecting boa:

is parallel with the front wallh of'th'e The coarser material, as has been 6-1 from which it may be removed, auto matically or otherwise, as may be desired. The lineinaterial is suitable for reuse as the abrasive to be discharged through the non-- ale 3]: and istherefore periodically delivered fromth'e trap orcollecting box 56 into the hopper 27. The sand box cf collecting trap 56 isso shaped and related to the duct 55, leading: thereto; that the material entering the duct treely passes to the collecting box,

but having once enteredthe latter it Will not readily return to the duct. The course of the" sand in "passing from the screening chamber to the trap oncollecting box 56' is indicated inFigs. 8 to 10.

The trap or, collecting box rotates With the drum and periodically passes above a chute 43 leading to the sand hopper27, and whenin position above such chute the material that has been collected andtra-pped' in the box is permitted to flow onto the chute and by it is directed into the hopper. The sand collecting box is provided with a dis charge opening that is normally closed by a door 58'that is supported by a spring hinge 59 which tends to maintain the door'closed at alltim'esexcept When the s'andwhich has collected in the box is to be'd-ischarged; The face ofthe door 58 has-secured to *it'a pad 62 which, closing against the casing surronnd ingthe opening, seals the same and prevents the escape of dust and other material so long as the door is held closed. An arm is connected with the'door and projects outward so that it comes into engagement with a stop'65 carried by the sand hopper 27 or some othersuitable part of the apparatus, the arrangement being such that as the drum. revolves and the sand trap or box 56 comes to position above the chute 43 leading to the'sand hopper, the arm 60 engages with the, stop'65 and causes the door to be swung away from the opening 57, whereupon the sand contained in the box 56 discharges upon thepchute and is thereby conducted into the sandhopper 27. .The' continued rotation of the drum, very shortly after the sand has been discharged as just described, carries the arm 60 beyond the stop 65, when the spring hinge 59 immediatelycloses the door 58. It Will be observed that in a machine-constructed according to my invention there isno mechanism for elevating, transporting-orcleaning the sand, located Within the cleaning chamber of the drum, her are there buckets,elevators, or conveyors located outside the drum for collecting the sand and delivering it tothe sandhoppe'r foruse ,a second time. The cleaning and grading means move with thedrum, are concentric therewith soxas to take up but --litt le (space, and do not have moving partsthat vation above the sand blast mechanism, so that the abrasive material will be fed by gravity to the sand blast mechanism and that also the operation of the feeding of the abrasive may be readily observed in order that any obstruction to the feeding operation may be noted and removed.

I herein employ the word sand in an inclusive sense, intending to cover thereby any suitable pulverulent abrading or cleaning material adapted to be conveyed by a current of air, and when acting on the articles being agitated within the drum will assist in cleaning them.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a cleaning machine, the combination of a rotatable tumbling drum one end of which is open, supported so as to be tilted about an axis located between the ends or" the drum, a support for arresting and supporting the drum in a determined position for rotation and a hinged closure for the open end of the drum supported independently of the drum.

2. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum of frustoconicalshape, open at its larger end, supports for the drum to permit it to be tilted for discharging its contents, a closure for the open end of the drum andsupports for the closure permitting it to be moved away from the end of the drum leaving the latter entirely open.

3. In acleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum open at one end, supports for the drum located near the open end thereof, and adapted to. permit the drum to be tilted for discharging purposes, a support for the end of the drum which is opposite the open end to hold it in position to be rotated, the support being separable to permit the tilting of the drum and a closure for the open end of the drum supported so it may be moved away from the drum to leave the end thereof open.

1. In acleaning machine, a rotatable tu1nbling drum, one end 01 which is open, a rocking cradle located between the ends of the drum and nearer the open end thereof, in which the drum is supported for rotation, an axial bearing for supporting the end of the drum opposite the open end, such hearing being independent of the cradle and separable from its own support to permit the drum to be tilted and a closure for the open end of the drum.

5. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum one end of which is open and the other closed, a cradle'in which the drum is supported for rotation, mounted so it may be rocked to permit the drum to be tilted for discharge, an axial bearing for the drum at the closed end thereof, separable from its own support a closure for the open end of the drum, and an axial bearing for the closure.

6. In a cleaning machine,a rotatable tumbling drum, having'one end open and the other closed, a support for the drum located between its ends and adapted to swing about a transverse axis to permit the drum to be tilted so it may be discharged through its open end, a support for the closed end of the drum, such support having an axial bearing and being separable to permit the end otthe drum to be moved away therefrom when the drum is tilted.

7 In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum having one end open and the other closed, a cradle in which the drum rests and turns, supported upon an axis transverse to the drum and located nearer the open end thereof, and a separable support for the closed end of the drum carrying an axial bearing for the latter.

8. The combination stated in clam 7 including also a closure for the open end of the drum and provided with an axial hearin 9. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum having an open end, a removable closure for the open end of the drum, axial bearings at the opposite ends of the drum, one being carried by the removable closure, sand blast mechanism delivering into the interior of thedrum through one of the bearings, and exhaust mechanism connected with the interior of the drum through the other of the bearings.

10. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable drum, having one end open and the other closed, a removable closure for the open end of the drum, a swinging bracket carrying the'closure, axial bearings at the opposite ends of the drum, one set of bearings being carried by the closure and its supporting bracket, sand blast mechanism delivering into thedrum through one of the axial bearings and exhaust mechanism connected with the interior oi? the drum through the other axial bearing.

11. The combination stated in claim 10, including also means for rotating the drum and supporting it so it may be tilted on a transverseaxis for discharge when the closure is moved to open the end of the drum.

12. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable open-ended drum, a closure for such end of the drum provided with an axial hub, a swinging bracket supporting the closure and provided with a bearing in which the hub of the closure turns, the hub having an axial opening through it, and a sand blast nozzle located inthe opening through the hub, delivering into the interior of the drum.

13. The combination stated in claim 12, including also a sand hopper delivering to the blast nozzle and supported by the bracket that carries the closure.

14. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable port for the said bearing having separable engagementwith the floor; stand, whereby th drum may be tilted upon its transverse axis and the rear bearing and its support lit-ed mvay from the floor stand.

In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum, a blast mechanism, for deliver-ing a cleaning abrasive into the interior of the drnnna hopper for the abrasive located exterior: to the drum, a casing surrounding and turning therewith communicating with the interior of the drum and into which the abrasive delivered into-the d-rumaccumulates, means within the-casing for-grading the abrasive that collects therein, and means whereby'thegraded; material may be delivered fromthe said chamber to the exterior hopper.

16; In a cleaning machine, a. rotatable tumbling drum having a perforate periph: eralsection, a sand blast mechanism delivering into the interior: ofthe drum, a sand hopper located exterior to the drum and arranged to. deliver by gravity to the sand blast mechanism, a casing surrounding the drum, covering the perforate portion thereof and forming a closed chamber, the sand and fine material from the interior of the drum being adapted to pass through the perforate portion thereof into the said chamber, and means within the said chamber and turning with the drum for sifting the material that enters the chamber and delivering the fine material to the sand hopper and the coarser separated material in another direction for discharge.

17. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum having a perforate peripheral section, sand blast mechanism for delivering into the interior of the drum, a closed casing covering the perforate portion of the drum and rotating therewith, the casing enclosing a chamber into which the sand and fine material from the interior of the drum charging such receptacle so its contentspass pass, through the said perforate portion, and means in the said chamber for sifting and grading the fine material that enters the chamber and operating by the rotation of the drum.

18. In a cleaning machine, a rotating tumbling drum having a perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering into the drum, a casing surrounding the perforate portion of the drum, and turning therewith, the casing enclosing a chamber into which passes the sand and fine material from the interior of the drum, through the perforate portion thereof, a sieve in the casing, carried materialthat passes through the sieve along oneconrse, and that which does not pass through the sieve along another course.

19, In .a cleaning. machine, a rotatable trembling drum having aperforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering into the drum, and ext rior thereto a sand hopper su-pponted.near the drum and delivering to and blast; mechanism, a casing surlii-ig the drum and forming a chamber into which the'loose sand and-fine material within the drum pass, through the said perforatejportion thereof, means in the said chamber; for-grading the sand and fine material-, and'means turning with the drum for directing the sand-and material suitable for reuse from the said; chamber to the sand hopper,

20: In a; cleaning machine, a tumbling d-num,.havinga perforate portion, a sand blast mechanismdelivering into the-drum, a sand hopper located in proximity to the drum and deliveringto the sand blast mechanism, a casing surrounding the drum and rotating therewith enclosing a chamber intowhich the loose sand and fine material collected in the drum] pass, through the said per'fonate portion; ofthe. drum, means rotating with the drum for grading the material that passes to the said chamber, and means for delivering that part of the graded material capable of reuse to the sand hopper.

21. In a cleaning machine, a tumbling drum having a perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering into the drum, a sand hopper located in proximity to the drum and delivering to the sand blast mechanism, a casing surrounding the drum and rotating therewith enclosing a chamber into which the loose sand and fine material collected in the drum pass, through the said perforate portion of the drum, means rotating with the drum for grading the material that passes to the said chamber, a collecting receptacle that turns with the drum means for delivering that part of the graded material capable of reuse to said collecting receptacle, and means for periodically disto the sand hopper.

22. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum havinga perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering thereto, a casing surrounding the drum and turning therewith forming a chamber covering the perforate portion of the drum, means for grading the loose material that passes from the drum into the chamber, through the perforate portion of the former, comprising a sieve across which the material is caused .to move by the rotation of the drum, and means for directing the material passing through the sieve along one course and that which does not pass through the sieve along another course.

23. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum having a perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering thereto, a casing surrounding the drum and turning therewith forming a chamber covering the perforate portion of the drum, means for grading the loose material that passes from the drum into the chamber, through the perforate portion of the former, comprising a sieve across which the material is caused to move by the rotation of the drum, a second sieve reversely inclined as to the first Which receives the material that does not pass through the first sieve, and means for directing the material passing through the two sieves to a common collecting receptacle and the material which does not pass through the sieves to another collecting receptacle.

24. In a cleaning machine, a rotatable tumbling drum having a perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering thereto, a casing surrounding the drum and turning therewith forming a chamber covering the perforate portion of the drum, means for grading the loose material that passes from the drum into the chamber, through the perforate portion of the former, comprising a sieve across Which the material is caused to move by the rotation of the drum, a collecting receptacle that turns with the drum, means for directing the material that passes through the sieve to said collecting receptacle, means for directing the material that does not pass through the sieve along another course, and means for periodically discharging the sifted material that collects in the said receptacle.

25. In a cleaning machine, the combination of a rotatable tumbling drum having a perforate portion, a sand blast mechanism delivering thereto, a sand hopper supported near the drum and delivering to the sand blast mechanism, a casing surrounding the drum and turning therewith forming a chamber covering the perforate portion of the drum, means for grading the loose material that passes from the drum into the chamber, through the perforate portion of the former, comprising a sieve across Which the material is caused to move by the rotation of the drum, a collecting receptacle rotating With the drum, means for directing to said receptacle the sifted material, and means operated by the rotation of the drum for periodically discharging the said collecting receptacle, permitting its contents to pass to the said hopper.

JOSEPH P. WILD. 

